“People are looking
for a more organic, pure sound now that you don’t get to hear
so much on the radio. It’s overpopulated with overproduced tracks,”
Pentatonix band mate and beat-boxer Kevin Olusola shared recently of
the resurgence of a capella music. Delivering succinctly-constructed
vocal-pop hooks are the group’s forte—bolstered by their
tightly-packed, punching harmonies, draped over a wholesome rhythmic
section (courtesy of Avi Kaplan and Olusola, too). It’s no real
wonder how The Sing-Off season three champions have carved out their
own market niche—they are unapologetically bold, dynamically captivating
and unlike anything else on the pop landscape.

With their PTX: Vol. III,
Pentatonix have transformed into something completely cataclysmic and
are poised for superstardom. While, sure, they are already household
names (in every sense of the term), what the new disc supplies (their
own original “On My Way Home” the highest, most sparkling
skyscraper moment) is a new-found sense of poise and confidence. Also
on such covers as Stromae‘s “Papaoutai” (an undertaking
which required French tutors to get it just right) and “La La
Latch” (a Sam Smith-hybrid of Disclosure‘s “Latch”
and Naughty Boy‘s “La La La”), they’ve notched
up their expertly-laid arrangements and allowed themselves to open up
in a truly inviting way.

Of course, adding a dash
of Ariana Grande (their “Problem” rendition is another standout
moment) and Clean Bandit‘s “Rather Be” gives the project
even more accessibility, without coming across as unnecessary or forced.
Despite being a lean seven tracks (with no sign of a full-length LP
in the near future), Pentatonix demonstrate their vast collection of
influences, styles and breadth of their perspective. If a hit single
isn’t achieved here, that might be the biggest travesty of 2014.
Their previous two non-holiday EPs were simply setting the stage for
what is clearly their best release to-date.